Quiz: Howstuffworks

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

Annette

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but how much do you know about Christmas? It's celebrated around the world, and it's rich with tradition and meaning, but in this quiz, we're going to go a step further. So, haul out the holly, we're getting our Christmas on.

When did December 25th become the official day of Christmas?

1900

1700

350 A.D.

It was a mere 350 years after the death of Jesus that the 25th was claimed as Christmas Day. It was Pope Julius who claimed that it should be celebrated in that day.

Christmas shopping makes up how much of U.S. retail sales?

How many Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year?

There are actually 25-30 million Christmas trees sold in the U.S. each year! That means real, living trees.

What calendar traditionally helps you count down to Christmas?

iCal

Day Planner

Advent Calendar

The Advent calendar is the traditional way in which folks count down to Christmas, starting on the first day of December. The calendar has little windows with chocolate inside!

Why do we give presents at Christmas?

It's a bartering system

Because we can

Because of the Wise Men

Giving gifts is to remind us of the gifts the Wise Men gave to baby Jesus. These included frankincense, gold and myrrh. No Lego.

A monk named ______ came up with the idea of Santa Claus?

St. Nicholas

Barnabas

Claude

A monk named St. Nicholas came up with the idea of Santa. The monk lived in the third century, in what is now known as Turkey.

When was the first Christmas card sent?

1985

1978

1843

The first Christmas card was actually sent in 1843. It was in the U.K., and the card depicted people helping the poor and enjoying Christmas dinner.

How long have Christmas trees been sold in the U.S.?

Over 150 years

About 50 years

20 years

For over 150 years Christmas trees have been sold in America. The first tree was sold in 1850.

How many rent-a-Santas​ are there in the United States?

Fewer than 1,000

About 20,000

Over 1 million

There are truly about 20,000 Santa's for hire in the U.S. Have you ever seen the movie "Bad Santa"? It's a must.

What do the British wear at Christmas dinner?

Bowties

Crowns

Red noses

The British actually wear crowns at Christmas dinner. These are kept in tubes called Christmas crackers.

When did Christmas become an official holiday​ in the United States?

1995

1915

1870

It was on June 26th of 1870 that Christmas became an official holiday. Oklahoma was the last state to agree.

What kind of tree is the Christmas tree?

Oak

Evergreen

Spruce

Christmas trees are evergreen trees. They take about 15 years to grow to full height!

What is a yule log?

The log where you note Christmas gifts to be purchased

A fruitcake

A large log to be burned

The yule log is the large log that was burned during the 12 days of Christmas. Did it seriously burn all 12 days?

Who was the precursor to Santa Claus?

Odin

Hercules

Moses

Odin was the precursor to Santa Claus. He was known for his flying horse, but no presents! Odin was a Viking god.

Where did the first Christmas tree come from?

Egypt

Iran

Germany

The Germans are thought to have started the Christmas tree tradition. This was back in 1531.

Where was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer born?

Montgomery Ward

Target

Walmart

Montgomery Ward department store sold coloring books with Rudolph as a main character. This was in 1939.

What's the best-selling song of all time?

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Thriller

White Christmas

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best-selling single of all time. Irving Berlin wrote it, and it was first performed on radio in 1941.

What did the candy cane originally look like?

A heart

All white

All green

The candy cane was originally all white. It was invented in Germany in the 19th century. Those Germans do love Christmas!

Where was the first artificial Christmas tree created?

Alaska

Poland

Germany

They first created a fake Christmas tree in Germany using dyed goose, turkey or ostrich feathers. Artificial trees are now quite popular.

Two weeks before Christmas, which of these is quite common?

Utter happiness

Ill health

Breakups

The two weeks prior to Christmas is actually a popular time for breakups. I guess the holiday season puts a strain on romance.

Which of these is a Christmas color?

Red

Green

Gold

All of the above

Red, green and gold are the three traditional colors of Christmas. Each color has its own significance: red for the blood of Christ, green for rebirth and gold for the warmth of the sun.

What do they put on their Christmas trees in Poland?

Spiders

Rats

Goblins

In Poland, people actually believe that spiders are a symbol of goodness. They decorate their trees with spiders and spider webs. According to legend, a spider once wove a blanket for baby Jesus.

Who condemned Christmas in America?

The Scientologists

The Jews

The Puritans

The Puritans were not crazy about Christmas. In fact, they made it totally illegal for some time.

Who answers the letters to Santa?

Santa

Elves

The United States Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service will send your child a letter "from Santa," postmarked from the North Pole. You must send your child's letter and your response "from Santa" to the proper address to make this happen.

How long has the White House put up an official Christmas tree?

Since 1969

Since 1987

Since the Great Depression

The White House has been putting up its Christmas tree since the Great Depression. It was the wife of President Herbert Hoover that began the tradition.

What does the X in X-mas stand for?

Nothing

Nobody knows

Christ

X actually stands for Christ! It comes from the Greek word. Some people think you should never use Xmas, from the mistaken belief that it represents secular laziness.

What kind of pudding is Christmas pudding?

Plum

Orange

Vanilla

Christmas pudding is a plum pudding. It is served in Britain at the end of Christmas dinner. It was originally made with beef or mutton!

How many Christmas cards are sent each year in the U.S.?

1.3 billion

3.1 million

31,000

In the U.S. alone, 1.3 billion Christmas cards are sent each year! Of course, with computers, that's changing.

Why do people have Midnight Mass?

So they can start the party early

So they don't have to get up the next morning

Because Jesus was born at midnight

Churches around the world have Midnight Mass because it's believed that was when Jesus was born. This is also when the bells are rung.

What kind of costumes do carolers wear?

Victorian

Georgian

Regency

Traditional carolers wear Victorian costumes. This is because Christmas caroling was very popular in Victorian England.

What's the most famous Christmas novel?

Santa: The Biography

A Christmas Carol

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

"A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens. It is performed as a stage play across the country at Christmastime.

What Christmas food was a status symbol in Georgian England?

Fruitcake

Rhubarb crumpets

Mince pie

Mince pie was a status symbol in Georgian England! Rich people would have their pies made in little fun shapes.

In the U.K., people believed that girls could discover their _____ on Christmas Eve.

True love

Calling in life

Past lives

It was once believed in the U.K. that when girls baked a "dumb cake" on Christmas Eve, it would reveal the initials of their future love! Seems an odd superstition.

Who created the association of Christmas and snow?

The Victorians

The Germans

The Haitians

During Victorian times, they were going through a mini Ice Age! That, and the Dickens story "A Christmas Carol," led the Victorians to associate Christmas with snow.

Where is the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World?

Michigan

Berlin

Florida

Berrien Springs, MI, is the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World! The Christmas pickle is an ornament hung on the tree, and the first child to find it gets a present.

Sponsored Links

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Get smarter every day! Subscribe & get 1 quiz every week.

Playing quizzes is free! We send trivia questions and personality tests every week to your inbox. By
clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our
privacy policy and confirming that you are 13
years old or over.